Coin examining and storage kit



Feb. 25, M, HEBERT COIN EXAMINING AND STORAGE KIT Filed April 28, 1967 FIGS INVENTOR do/m/ M. #55027 BY z: K1444, f W

ATTO RN EYS States 3,429,425 COIN EXAMINING AND STORAGE KIT John M. Hebert, 3428 Pickwick Place, Wayne, Mich. 48184 Filed Apr. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 634,585 US. Cl. 206.81 Claims Int. Cl. A45c 11/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand-carried case having storage areas for unsorted coins, viewing apparatus for examining and sorting coins and removable panels for permanently displaying and ac cumulating sorted coins in a classified arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Field of the prior art Many numismatists spend innumerable hours patiently examining large quantities of coins and selecting from these coins those specimens which the collector either may not already possess in his collection or which may possess an unusual extrinsic value because of its age, low circulation, or other unique characteristic. The examination process is normally done visually and quite often a magnifying lens is required in order to ascertain distinguishing characteristics of the coins such as mint marks which exhibit a high degree of wear and are difficult to examine with the unaided eye. After examination, the numismatist makes a decision to either reject the particular coin or to accept it for his collection. If the coin is accepted, it is either mounted on a display panel or stored in tubular receptacles.

It is the broad purpose of the present invention to provide a complete kit for the numismatist which permits him to readily examine, display and store his collection in a compact, hand-carried case.

SUMMARY The case, which will subsequently be described in detail is preferably formed of a pair of casing sections hingedly connected together for cooperative movement wherein they may be closed to define a compartment or opened to permit access to the compartment. One of the casing sections contains a plurality of coin mounting panels adapted to systematically classify the coins. The coin mounting panels preferably have a rectangular configuration and are removably connected to the hinged side of the casing section by a plurality of conventional releasable rings which engage openings formed along one edge of each panel. Each of the panels has defined therein a plurality of regularly arranged apertures, each having indicia indicating the particular coins that are associated with the particular aperture.

The mounting panels are normally formed of a stiff compact pasteboard and may take either of two forms depending on whether the numismatist desires to acatent Ofifice 3,429,425 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 cumulate a few coins in each classification or a relatively large number of coins. It 3 to 5 coins are to be stored for each classification, the apertures defined in the panel have a diameter slightly smaller than the coin size which permits a coin to be inserted in an aperture and tightly retained therein thus displaying to a viewer a sample of the particular type of coins associated with the mounting aperture. The panel has a backing formed of a lightweight plastic material such as styrofoam with a thickness corresponding to the stacked height of the average number of coins which the numismatist desires to accumulate in each of the classifications. This backing for purposes of description may have a thickness of about A to /2 of an inch. An opening in the backing is associated with each of the apertures in the mounting panel, and a tubular plastic container snugly fitted in each opening to contain the coins.

If the numismatist desires to accumulate a large number of coins in each classification, the panels have a two part transparent plastic container associated with each of the coin mounting apertures including a first cylindrical container section having an inner diameter slightly larger than the coins that are to be stored therein and a closed end. A display coin is disposed in the first container section adjacent the closed end. A light weight plastic retainer ring tightly fits the inner diameter of the container adjacent the coin. A peripheral lip formed around the closed end is seated on the rim of the aperture to exhibit the display coin. A second cylindrical container section is mounted to the open end of the first container section and behind the panel to define a storage compartment for the coins.

The second casing section is preferably divided into three portions, which may be referred to as an unsorted coins portion, a viewing portion and a rejected coins portion. The unsorted coins portion and the rejected coins portion are disposed at opposite ends of the casing section and separated by the viewing portion. Both the unsorted coins and rejected coins portions preferably take the form of an open cavity having a semicircular cross section which extends for greater than half the width of the casing section and then tapers to a much narrower semicircular cross section which extends the remainder of the width of the casing section.

The viewing portion includes a flat, thin, transparent observation platform spaced from the side panel of the casing section to form a reflection compartment. A pair of mirrors mounted in the reflection compartment project the image of a coin placed on the observation platform. Thus, a coin which is placed on the upper surface of the observation panel and over one of the mirrors presents an image of the downward facing side to a viewer thus permitting simultaneous examination of obverse andreverse sides of the coin. If the coin is of the type which requires a more minute inspection, a magnifying lens mounted intermediate the observation panel and one of the mirrors permits the numismatist to place the coin on the observation panel in such a position that the image presented through the mirrors is enlarged to a size sufficient for an adequate inspection.

It can therefore be seen that the present invention contemplates a kit for the numismatist which enables him to place a plurality of unsorted coins into a receptacle, individually examine the coins which if unacceptable are disposed in the rejected coin receptacle and if acceptable are placed in a storage receptacle provided in a display panel. Thus the collector has all the implements necessary for the examination, exhibition and storage of his coins provided in a light weight, hand carried case.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve coin examination and storage apparatus by providing a hand carried case formed of a first casing section having portions for unsorted coins and sorted rejected coins and a portion for coin examination and a second casing section having a plurality of display panels, each panel being provided with a plurality of apertures and including means for mounting a coin in each aperture for display purposes and further including a closable receptacle for storing a plurality of coins associated with each of the display apertures.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display panel for coins having a plurality of regularly spaced openings, each opening associated with a species of coin and including a tubular receptacle associated with each opening for the storage of a plurality of the species, one of which is displayed in a prominent manner.

Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts through out the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin examining and storage kit illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred coin o DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a preferred coin collecting kit comprises a first casing section and a second casing section generally indicated at 12 connected together by hinges 14 which permit the casing sections to move toward one another into a closed position or away from one another into an open position.

Casing section 10 preferably comprises a generally rectangular side panel 16 having normally extending side sections 18 to form a box-like section. A plurality of coin mounting panels 20 are detachably connected to the interior of the casings by clamping rings 22. The rings 22 permit each of the panels to be moved into the casing section 10 for storage or out of the casing section 10 for examination of coins mounted thereon. Each of the mounting panels 20 has a series of regularly spaced rows of receptacles 24. Each receptacle 24 normally displays and stores a single species of coin.

Preferably the panels 20 have a rectangular outline and have a long side with a plurality of holes 26 which receive the clamping rings 22 for retaining the panels to the casing sections.

Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged view of a corner of a mounting panel 20 illustrates a typical receptacle 24 which contains a coin 30. The panel 20, as can be seen in FIGURE 4, includes a circular opening or aperture 32 in which is tightly fitted a cylindrical receptacle section 34. The section 34 includes a closed end 36 preferably formed of a transparent plastic material. The inner diameter of the section 34 is preferably larger than the coin that is to be disposed therein. The coin is mounted for display purposes in a face to face relationship with the closed end 36 of the receptacle section 34 and is retained therein by a ring-shaped resilient removable retainer 38. The retainer 38 tightly fits the inside of the receptacle section 34 and abuts the inner side of the coin 30 as shown.

Preferably the closed end 36 of the receptacle section is somewhat dished outwardly as shown to more sharply set off the coin 30. The receptacle section 34 includes a depending peripheral lip 40 which is seated on the rim of the opening 32 and a cylindrical portion 42 which extends through the opening 32 and has a length sufiicient to accommodate a plurality of coins. A close fitting cap member 42 defines a storage compartment 44 between the retainer 38 and the closed end of the cap member 42.

Thus the particular species of coin may be attractively displayed and conveniently stored in the receptacle 24 and the cap 42. It is to be understood that when the numismatist is examining coins prior to storage the improved panel may be removed from the kit, placed in a downwardly facing position and the caps 32 removed to provide handy storage receptacles.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative form of a display panel 46 preferably having a rectangular border and apertures 48 for receiving the clamping rings 22. The display panel 46 has an opening 50 extending only partially through the thickness of the panel 46 to define an annular seat 52. The opening 50 has a configuration slightly smaller than the circumference of a coin such as 54 so that the coin may be snugly fitted in the opening and mounted on the seat 52. The particular species of coin is indicated by indicia 56 marked on the panel 46 adjacent the opening 50.

A backing member 58 preferably formed of a lightweight plastic material is fixed to the reverse side of the panel 46 by a suitable adhesive and has an opening 60 registering with and extending downwardly from each opening 50. A cylindrical receptacle 62 is fitted in the opening 60 and preferably has an open end with a peripheral edge 64 which abuts the back side of the panel 46 and a closed opposite end 66. The receptacle 62 has an outer diameter which closely fits the opening 60 so that an external force must be applied to the receptacle 62 before it can be separated from the backing 58. The receptacle 62 defines a compartment 68 for retaining a few coins of the species corresponding to coin 54.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the second casing section 12 has a side panel 70 and normally extending sides 72 to define a box-like section similar to casing section 10. The upper edges of the sides 72 abut the edges of the sides 18 of the first casing section 10 when the casing sections are in their closed position to define a compartment therein. When the casing sections 10 and 12 are in their closed position, a latch mechanism 74 carried on the exterior side of sections 72 and 18 maintains the casing sections 10 and 12 in the closed position.

A pair of similarly shaped coin receptacles 76 are arranged adjacent the shut-sides of easing section 12. Each of the coin receptacles 76 has an elongated cavity 78 preferably having a semicircular cross-section which terminates at a tapered section 80 which merges with a narrow cavity 82 having a somewhat flared and semicircular cross-section.

It is to be understood that normally one cavity 78 is filled with coins that are to be sorted and the other cavity 78 provides a receptacle for the disposition of unacceptable coins that have been inspected. The narrow cavity 82 provides a means to assist the numismatist in stacking the coins prior to wrapping them in conventional coin wrappers.

Still referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, an observation panel 84 is connected intermediate the receptacles 76 and spaced from the side panel 70. The observation panel 84 is preferably formed of a clear transparent material. Intermediate the observation panel 84 and the casing section side panel 70 are disposed a pair of mirrors 86 and 88 which run the full width of the casing 12. Each of the mirrors are supported at an identical angle With respect to the panel 84 and are seated such that a coin 90 placed over one of the mirrors 86 presents an image of the downward facing side to an observer so that both sides of the coin 90 may be simultaneously viewed. The numismatist will normally place a coin on the transparent observation panel 84 and by simultaneously examining both sides of the coin complete his inspection to determine whether to accept or reject the coin. It is to be understood of course that there will be some coins which will require a very intensive examination which cannot be adequately accomplished by the unaided eye. For this reason, a magnifying lens 92 is mounted as by bracket 94 intermediate the observation panel 84 and the mirrors 88 so that the viewer may see an enlarged image of the coin.

Thus it is to be understood that I have described a coin examination and storage kit which provides in a compact hand-carried case, means for individually and conveniently examining a plurality of coins and including a built-in magnifying lens for enlarging coins having minute identification characteristics. Furthermore, the improved coin kit includes improved display panels for mounting and storing selected coins which are acceptable for the numismatists collection.

The panels 20 are preferably formed of a stiif compact pasteboard. The backing 58 is preferably formed of a Styrofoam plastic and the casing sections and 12 are formed of a lightweight relatively stiff material such as sheet aluminum or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A kit useful for individually examining a plurality of coins and for storing selected individual coins, said kit .omprising a combination of:

(a) a first casing section and a second casing section,

said casing sections hingedly connected for cooperative relative movement between a closed position wherein said casing sections define an article storage compartment, and an open position wherein said casing sections permit access to said compartment;

(b) a transparent observation platform disposed in said first casing section and spaced from the side panel of said casing section;

(c) reflection forming means disposed intermediate said transparent observation platform and said side panel for presenting an image of the reverse side of a coin disposed on said observation platform;

((1) magnifying means for enlarging the reverse image of said coin; and

(e) means for systematically mounting selected coins into predetermined classifications within said second casing section.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said reflection forming means include a pair of mirror members each disposed at a similar angle with respect to the observation platform to cooperatively reflect an image of the abutting face of a coin disposed on the observation platform to a viewer.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said reflection forming means includes a pair of mirror members adapted to cooperatively present an image of the hidden face of a coin to the viewer.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said magnifying means includes a magnifying lens disposed intermediate said reflection forming means and said transparent observation platform and adapted to enlarge the reflected image of a coin placed on said observation platform.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said coin mounting means comprises a panel member having a plurality of regularly arranged receptacles defined therein, and each of said receptacles is associated with a selected species of coin; and including a tubular container associated with each of said receptacles for storing a plurality of coins, and each of said containers having a transparent end section for displaying a coin disposed Within said container.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said coin mounting means comprises a rectangular panel member having a plurality of openings regularly arranged in rows, each of said openings associated with a selected species of coin and having a perimeter slightly smaller than said coin to permit said coin to be snugly retained therein.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, including a tubular receptacle associated with each of said openings and adapted to normally extend from a common face of said panel to provide storage for a plurality of coins of the selected species associated with said openings.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said coin mounting means comprises a panel member having a plurality of apertures defined in a regular arrangement in said panel, a tubular section associated with each of said apertures and having an open end and a closed end and adapted to extend through said aperture, said closed end having a depending peripheral lip adapted to seat said tubular section in said aperture, and a second elongated tubular section having an inner diameter adapted to permit said second tubular section to mate with the open end of said first tubular section to cooperatively define a coin storage chamber therein.

5!. The invention as defined in claim 8, including means for retaining a coin in said first tubular section in an abutting relationship with said closed end.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, including lock means associated with said casing sections for locking said sections in the closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,245,523 4/1966 White 206-.83 3,311,436 3/1967 Vitale et al. 206-.83

JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

